Tuesday, December 20, 2011

When it comes to amazing creatures, I've always thought the polar bears ranked right up there with the best of them. There is something about their intelligent eyes and their white fur and the way that they can glide through the water so beautifully. Who doesn't love these gorgeous animals?

Being so large and strong out in the wild, it's often hard to remember that the polar bears aren't invincible. As they spend their lives on the Arctic sea ice hunting, living and breeding, the loss of habitat is now the polar bear's greatest threat. With the sea ice melting at an unprecedented rate, what is going to happen to those that call it home?

Fortunately, this holiday season Coca-Cola and the World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to raise awareness and funds to protect the polar bear's habitat with the Artic Home campaign.

The goal of Coca-Cola Artic Home is simple and admirable: in partnership with World Wildlife Fund, they have set out to raise awareness and funds to help create a safe haven for the polar bear — an Arctic refuge.

Visiting the site will leave you in awe from the photos (I've watched the introduction multiple times already) and give you the opportunity to find out more about their mission as well as donate to the cause yourself. From learning about the arctic efforts being made to the field work of the research team to being able to virtually explore and track actual polar bears yourself, it's hard to not be drawn in and left admiring this huge undertaking.

Exploring the terrain in real time - for every dollar you donate, you may select one virtual parcel of Arctic Home that you can use as a base for exploring and tracking real polar bears

So how can we get involved? Coca-Cola has made an initial $2 million donation to World Wildlife Fund and now they want to help bring happiness to our homes as well. By teaming up with Walmart, Coca-Cola has introduced exclusive 28 packs of Coke that are being sold exclusively from this merchandiser only.

After purchasing a 28 pack, visit ArcticHome.com/Walmart and enter the code found on the packaging to donate to the cause (by text or online) and you will earn 70 My Coke Rewards points and receive a free virtual parcel on Arctic Home. Even better, Coke will match donations made by March 15, 2012 up to another $1 million!

For a little more fun, be sure to take part in the hourly instant win game at ArcticHome.com/Walmart for a $100 Walmart gift card (through December 31, 2011). Who doesn't want that? You must be a My Coke Rewards member to participate (as well as a legal resident of the U.S. or DC and 13+ years of age), but membership is free, of course. Details and full rules can be found right on the site.

This holiday season, be sure to include a 28 pack of Coke and an entry (or two) to instantly win a Walmart gift card to put towards adding happiness to your home. Remember, these special packs are exclusively in Walmart stores, but if you can't find them in your area, don't fret. Walmart will also be featuring Coca-Cola Arctic Home Holiday Orb Bottles for $1 that will earn your virtual Arctic Home parcel and an entry into the $100 Walmart gift card instant win game as well.

Plus, c'mon. They're just so cute!

Thanks to the generosity of Coca-Cola, one person will be ready to have a little extra joy in their lives this holiday season as well, because...

To enter to win: As this is such a short giveaway, just leave me a comment telling me that you would like to be entered to win!

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.Giveaway will end on December 21st at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

This prize was provided for me and the giveaway winner by The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company is not a sponsor, administrator or connected in any other way with this instant win.